Date: Mon, 23 Jul 2007 14:44:31 -0700 (PDT)
From: Ben Baird
Subject: The Dickriders of Pern: Chapter One
"The Dragonriders of Pern" is a trademark of Ann McCaffrey.
This story is not written or endorsed by Ann McCaffrey.
Copyright 2007.
The two young people had just recovered from their throes of passionate
love-making and were getting dressed when there was a knock on the door.
Both quickly threw the rest of their clothes on and sat down appearing to
make conversation.
"Come in!" Atharan yelled.
The door opened and Lord Holder Pelcar of Ruatha entered.
"The dragons have come on search," he said.
Atharan and his companion looked at each other.
"They want to see all eligable young men and women."
The two lovers made their way out into the courtyard where three blue and
three green dragons stood. A bronze stood out in front of them. Atharan
and his lover stood at the edge of the crowd of young people. Atharan saw
the bronze dragon look at his rider.
Not a very promising looking group here.
Atharan gasped.
His lover, Rogansil looked down at him.
"You heard it, too?" he whispered.
Atharan nodded.
One of the blue dragons sent a thought at the bronze.
Let me be the judge of who is promising here.
All of the riders laughed and the blue looked slightly embarassed. He
walked forward looking at each of the youths. The ones he passed over
moved away from the rest of the group and back to their families. The few
that were chosen walked over to the dragons and were helped up onto a back.
Finally the blue looked at Rogansil and Atharan. Where others had quailed
at his glance, the two young men stared boldly back at him. He looked at
his rider.
These two feel different. They are connected in a way that confuses me.
They are perfect candidates but they must not be separated. Their bond
feels like they are Impressed.
Rogansil cleared his throat.
"Forgive me for asking but, what is being "Impessed"?
"I was wondering that myself." Atharan said.
The bronze rider practically ran over to them.
"Can you hear dragons?" He asked seriously.
The two teens looked at each other briefly and nodded simultaniously.
"I am N'ram, rider of bronze Kinrath. If what you claim is true, then you
will have no problem speaking to Kinrath."
Again the two looked at each other. Then they looked at the bronze and
spoke their names and ages. The bronze seemed taken back that two boys
should be heard in his head.
The tall one says he is Rogansil of Ruatha. He was seventeen turns, two
months ago. The shorter one is Atharan, also of Ruatha. He will be
seventeen turns in four months.
N'ram looked at the the two young lovers with unconcealable glee.
"Never in a hundred turns could we have hoped to find two such young men!
You must both come with us to Benden Weyr. Our queen has a clutch ready to
hatch at any moment. And there is a queen egg"
N'ram rushed two boys over to Kinrath, and helped them up onto the dragons'
broad back.
"Hold on." He warned.
With a sudden leap, Kinrath took to the air.
We are going Between. The bronze warned the three riders.
As quickly as they felt the cold and nothingness of Between, they were out
again and decending to Benden Weyr. The watch dragon greeted them with a
loud bugle. The boys heard an urgant voice.
You must hurry, Kinrath! The Hatching is about to begin!
While he relayed the news to his rider, the bronze dragon folded his wings
against his body and went into a dive, coming out of it at the last second.
"We must hurry!" N'ram said urgently.
He rushed the boys into the Weyr and into a side chamber.
"Take off your clothing and put these on!" N'ram said thrusting two white
robes into their hands. "Be quick about it!"
Rogansil and Atharan looked at each other while complying.
As soon as they had the garments on, N'ram shoved them out of the chamber
and down the hall and into another chamber with many other white robed
hopefuls. A man entered the room.
"I am M'ton, rider of blue Sirenth. I am the weyrling master. In a moment
we will enter the Hatching Grounds. You will spread out in a semi circle.
Do not approach Rowenath, the queen. Do not approach the eggs or the
hatchlings until one starts making its' way toward you. Young ladies, if
one you is chosen you will know it. Now we go!"
M'ton walked out of the chamber and into another hall. All of the
candidates followed silently. The hall gradually got warmer and then,
suddenly, they were out into the huge arena that was the Hatching grounds.
They saw Rowenath, the huge golden queen jealously guarding her eggs. They
saw the many people who were gathered to watch the Hatching and
Impressions. All of the young men walked over to near the cluster of eggs
which would hatch into bronzes, browns, blues, and greens. The girls
cautiously walked over to stand near Rowenath and the queen egg.
Suddenly there was a shout as one of the eggs started rocking. It cracked
and a bronze dragonet tumbled out. It righted its self and made its' way
toward the cluster of boys. The hatchling suddenly looked at Rogansil and
the Impression was made.
"He says his name is Degrath!" Rogansil said exitedly.
I am hungry, too! The bronze hatchling added.
As the Hatching ground cleared of youngsters who had Impressed, Atharan was
still standing. There was only one egg left besides the queen egg.
Suddenly, the queen
egg began to rock. The spectators cheered. A large crack appeared.
Then, all at once, the egg burst open and the little queen spilled out.
The young girls slowly approached, but to everyones' bewilderment, the new
queen walked right past them. Atharan was looking at the ground, bravely
trying not to burst into tears.
You are sad?
He heard a voice ask.
He heard a gasp and looked up.
The little queen was standing in front of him and the Impression was made!
"Her name is Torenth!" Atharan yelled.
The whole cavern was silent with shock. The Weyrleader and Weyrwoman
walked up to him and walked him out of the Hatching grounds with Torenth
following, all the while squeaking for food. They were led into a private
chamber where the Weyrwoman abruptly shut the door. Atharan looked at the
two Leaders questioningly.
"What is going on?" he asked.
"No man has ever Impressed a queen before." Said the Weyrleader. "We have
no idea what to do with you or Torenth."
"Everyone knows that the dragon chooses its' rider." The Weyrwoman said.
"There is nothing more to say about it."
"But who will fly her? You know what is involved in the mating flight. Do
we keep Atharan separated from the other riders?"
"All of our riders are capable of restraint. We have nothing to worry
about." Declared the Weyrwoman. "Besides, we have three years to prepare
for Torenths' Rising flight."
"Very well," the Weyrleader conceaded. "Atharan and Torenth, you may
leave."
I am still very hungry. Torenth reminded Atharan.
Later...
Atharan made his way to the weyrling barracks with a much satiated Torenth
walking beside him. As he entered the barracks he felt every eye upon him.
Rogansil, or R'gan, as he was now called made his way over to him and
looked at him excitedly.
"We made it!" He said
"Yes, we did." Replied Atharan.
"What now?"
"Now we learn."
____________________________
I have hit a writers block. If anyone has suggestions or feedback for me
please e-mail me! gatefreak89@yahoo.com